Akshay Kumar starrer Khel Khel Mein recently released in cinemas worldwide, but with an added layer of censorship in the UAE. This has led to a lot of confusion among fans there as they claim that important parts of the comedy have been cut, including Fardeen Khan’s erotic scene. “I was looking forward to watching this film as it has a progressive storyline. These are stories we need to see more of, not less of,” a fan told Mid-Day.
Another fan from Dubai said that the edits made by the UAE Media Regulatory Office changed the story of Fardeen’s character. “It’s disappointing to see such an important moment being erased. I felt cheated when I found out about this from Indian cinema lovers. Such censorship deprives the audience from fully experiencing the film’s powerful message,” the fan said.
Several reports say that the local authorities have not only cut Fardeen Khan’s sexuality around the climax but also cut out the main part of the story. Strangely, even common dialogues like “My 10-year-old daughter’s thinking is better than your thinking” have been cut out.
When the portal contacted the film’s director Mudassar Aziz for questions about the censorship, he said, “It’s sad to see that something so relevant and done with so much dignity is left out of the UAE release, but I am thrilled with the appreciation I’m receiving from across the world for those scenes.”
Fardeen Khan, on the other hand, said that through his role in Khel Khel, he hopes to contribute to an important and relevant conversation. “Although edits have been made, the intention behind the role – acceptance – remains unchanged, and I stand by the importance of the message,” Khan said.
Khel Khel Mein revolves around seven friends whose secrets are revealed during a game night and also stars Taapsee Pannu, Vaani Kapoor, Amy Virk, Pragya Jaiswal and Aditya Seal. Also, as this comedy marks Fardeen’s return to the big screen after 14 years, fans in the UAE are very sad to know about his key scenes being cut. The film is currently running in cinemas.
Also read: Akshay Kumar on clash between ‘Khel Khel Mein’ and ‘good friend’ John Abraham’s ‘Veda’: ‘No slash’
